United Kingdom, May 20 -- A hot air ballon ride with Sir Richard Branson helped Janet Jackson sign to Virgin Records.

The hot commodity picked the label - now owned by Universal Music Group - in 1991 after the peaceful and serene experience enabled the co-founder to "sweeten the deal", and being offered "the largest amount of money ever to be offered to any singer".

On Monday (18.05.26), Richard, now 75, marked the 33rd anniversary of the singer's fifth studio album, Janet, by telling his Instagram followers how Virgin Records was responsible for its release.

He posted a shot of him and the five-time Grammy winner, now 60, in the hot air balloon with the caption: "On this day in 1993, @JanetJackson released her iconic album, Janet, thr...